Washington Lemon Law: Do You Qualify?
Under the Wash. Rev. Code ch. 19.118 (Motor Vehicle Lemon Law).
Washington's lemon law covers new vehicles including motorcycles and trucks up to 19,000 lbs GVWR, the most generous weight threshold among comparable states. Defects arising within the 2-year / 24,000-mile eligibility period can lead to a repurchase or replacement, and the state's Attorney General runs the New Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board that decides these claims. Two clocks matter: the eligibility period and a separate 30-month outer deadline to request arbitration. If your vehicle keeps failing the same way, you may qualify; the free checker below applies Washington's rules to your answers in minutes.
Washington lemon law at a glance
- Coverage window
- 2 years from original delivery or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first (or the express warranty period if shorter). A separate outer deadline applies: arbitration must be requested within 30 months of original delivery.
- Repair attempts
- 4 attempts for the same defect, or 2 attempts for a serious safety defect (substantial likelihood of death or serious bodily injury). Two different serious safety defects, each repaired at least once within a 12-month period, also trigger the presumption.
- Days out of service
- 30 cumulative calendar days out of service, with at least 15 of them during the eligibility period.
- Written notice
- Required: written notification to the manufacturer by certified mail, return receipt requested, giving a final repair opportunity before filing with the arbitration board.
- Used vehicles
- Not covered as a freestanding category. A used vehicle may qualify only if the defect arises within the eligibility window while still under the original manufacturer warranty. Motorcycles ARE covered, and trucks up to 19,000 lbs GVWR qualify.
- State program (primary path)
- The Washington New Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board, administered by the Attorney General, is the primary statutory remedy for invoking lemon-law relief. Requests are due within 30 months of original delivery.
Check your Washington eligibility now
Free, anonymous, and specific to Washington. Answer a few questions about your vehicle and repair history to see whether you may qualify.
Washington lemon law: frequently asked questions
- What are the repair thresholds under the Washington lemon law?
- Four attempts for the same defect, or two for a serious safety defect (one with a substantial likelihood of causing death or serious bodily injury). Two different serious safety defects each repaired at least once within 12 months also qualify, as does a vehicle out of service 30 cumulative days with at least 15 inside the eligibility period.
- What deadlines apply in Washington?
- Two different clocks: the defect triggers must occur within the 2-year / 24,000-mile eligibility period, and the request for arbitration with the AG's board must be filed within 30 months of original delivery. Confusing the two is a common mistake; a civil action under the lemon law carries a 4-year period from delivery.
- Does the Washington lemon law cover motorcycles and large trucks?
- Yes on both counts, which sets Washington apart: motorcycles are explicitly covered, and trucks up to 19,000 lbs GVWR qualify, the most generous weight cap among comparable states. Motor-home chassis are covered too, though the living-quarters portion is excluded.
- Do I have to go through arbitration in Washington?
- The state arbitration board is the primary statutory path for lemon-law remedies: after certified-mail notice and the manufacturer's final repair opportunity, the consumer requests arbitration with the AG-administered board. Independent court claims under the UCC or Consumer Protection Act remain available.
- What can I recover if my vehicle qualifies in Washington?
- Your election of a repurchase (the purchase price plus collateral charges such as tax, license, registration, and finance charges, minus a reasonable use offset) or a comparable replacement vehicle. Attorney fees are recoverable, and the Consumer Protection Act can add penalties for unfair or deceptive acts.
Think you qualify? Estimate your refund with the Washington lemon law calculator →
Statutes cited on this page
- RCW 19.118.041 (Washington Motor Vehicle Lemon Law: manufacturer duty to repair nonconformity)
- RCW 19.118.021(6) (Definition: "Eligibility period" — ending two years after original delivery or the first 24,000 miles of operation, whichever first)
- RCW 19.118.041(2) (Reasonable number of repair attempts: statutory presumption)
- RCW 19.118.090 (Washington New Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board: request and procedures)
- RCW 19.118.021 (Definitions: "new motor vehicle"; used vehicles excluded as freestanding category)
This page summarizes the statute in plain language and is not legal advice. The linked official text controls.